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A girl using sign language (source)
Some autistic people are nonverbal, meaning that they do not use speech to communicate. Nonverbal autistic people may use alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) including typing, sign language, facilitated communication, picture exchange communication systems, and more.
Often people are nonverbal due to a developmental delay, though sometimes they are following a regression, commonly experienced at age 3, however more rarely a regression into becoming nonverbal can occur as a child, in adolescence and even as an adult.
People who become nonverbal following a regression often have had a history of severe regressions since their early developmental period.
The term nonverbal has also been used by some to refer to a temporary loss of speech "going nonverbal", however many nonverbal activists have expressed that they feel this can harm members of the nonverbal community as it can take over their spaces and lead to misunderstandings, and many have expressed that they feel it is not medically accurate.
Some nonverbal activists have opted for the use of verbal shutdown to describe temporary speech loss instead of "going nonverbal". It should also be noted "going nonspeaking", "nonverbal episode", "nonspeaking episode" have also been expressed to cause harm to members of the nonverbal community.
Nonverbal adults[]
Around 20% of autistic adults are nonverbal. Examples of nonverbal autistic adults include Amy Sequenzia and Amanda Baggs.
Nonverbal adults can live full and meaningful lives. They may do most of their social networking through text chats and texting. They may especially enjoy the company of other nonverbal or partially verbal disabled people, because they may find them to be more patient and accepting.
Nonverbal children[]
Nonverbal children can sometimes communicate through AAC. Many children start off with the Picture Exchange Communication System before moving on to either verbal speech or more advanced AAC.[1] However concerns have been raised over the practice of needing to learn PECS before being given access to high tech AAC, as many argue that no one should have to prove themselves to access high tech AAC, and that different types of AAC can be good for different people.
AAC allows children to develop language and communication skills. They can use it to express needs, wants, and feelings, and to connect with their loved ones and the world around them. In many cases, it is a stepping stone to verbal speech. In others, the nonverbal child will grow into a nonverbal adult.
Nonverbal children should be given as many opportunities to communicate and be heard as possible. It is also beneficial for them to be exposed to language, including reading books and having their loved ones talk to them in full sentences. Though for some nonverbal people hearing speech can be distressing, as they do not yet have the ability to understand what the speech is saying, and only hear sounds.